Movie Review: The Thursday Murder Club
One-liner: A solid cast, classic setting and engaging murder mystery compel this light, fun and entertaining whodunnit.
Based on the novel by Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club, takes place at an affluent retirement home where a group of residents holds a weekly meeting to solve cold case murders. When a fourth member joins their ranks, they soon discover their beautiful estate may be demolished for a new development. Then, a real murder rocks their community, and it’s up to the Thursday Murder Club to use their experience and wits to get to the bottom of it.
Much like the film Quartet, The Thursday Murder Club taps into the recent revival of murder mysteries, fueled by films like Knives Out and Murder Mystery. The result is an entertaining story about a group of amateur sleuths whose hobby becomes so much more than pontification. Their crime-solving abilities are put to the test as they work to bring justice and assist their bumbling local police service.
One of the first things you’ll notice about this film from Chris Columbus is its stellar ensemble of veteran actors. At the helm is Helen Mirren, who brings a certain gravitas, having played the Queen and starred in the acclaimed procedural series Prime Suspect. She’s supported by Pierce Brosnan, who has a knack for appearing in offbeat capers, along with Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, Jonathan Pryce, David Tennant and Richard E. Grant. This fine dramatic cast has also dabbled in comedy, making it clear we’re in safe hands with Imrie filling in for a role that would have typically gone to the late Maggie Smith. They add an extra layer of finesse and star power to this spirited crime drama, which tips its deerstalker to shows like Columbo and Inspector Morse. The tone remains light and fun as the group proves they’re more than up to the task of finding out “whodunit?”.
Set at a beautiful location in the English countryside, this colourful and delightful film is both entertaining and engaging. It coasts along, leaning heavily on its high-calibre cast, though it does run the risk of under-utilizing them. The film keeps the characters nimble, focusing more on the story’s momentum than on deep character development. Much like the shows it references, character depth is less important than solving the actual puzzle. While The Thursday Murder Club doesn’t suffer too much from this, it does keep things lightweight and operates on a fairly superficial level. Mirren is effectively the lead, taking charge as a woman whose background provides a number of useful skills.
“Has anyone seen Colonel Mustard?”
The writing is thoughtful, yet it only offers the bare essentials of backstories to keep things moving at a brisk pace. With a broad ensemble and a two-hour runtime, director Chris Columbus manages to keep the sprawling story entertaining. Dabs of comedy and drama add spice to the murder mystery, which, while not very suspenseful, has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. The mystery is far from straightforward, and while the comedic notes could have been stronger, the film remains generally amusing.
The cast, location, and genre offer a welcome mix. Even if the stakes aren’t particularly high, the film is content to simply entertain. Given Columbus’s history of upbeat and fun films (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), this comes as no surprise.
There’s enough charm and investigative drama to keep things moving as this tale about a few retired oddballs ratchets up the action. The soundtrack reflects the film’s upbeat spirit with a few familiar favourites, and the fact that it remains entertaining for its full two hours is a testament to its quality ingredients and storytelling dexterity.
Helen Mirren is a consummate professional and delivers a typically solid performance. Pierce Brosnan manages to ooze charm even as a reprobate. Celia Emrie veers away from the latter-day cougar type and Ben Kingsley’s presence is always welcome, even if his performance is a bit underwhelming. The actors’ film histories add an interesting layer to The Thursday Murder Club, which functions as a fun spin on the typical British murder mystery formula. The ensemble raises the film’s profile, but the story could have also made for a curious series concept. It may not be as riveting or edgy as Knives Out, but it will appeal to those who enjoyed films like Quartet.
The bottom line: Entertaining
